Frischmann



F 2 19 K. FRISCHMANN DOVETAIL CONNECTION FOR MICROSCOPES Filed Oct. 15, 1952 United States Patent O 2,735,519 DOVETAIL CONNECTION FOR MICROSCOPES Karl Frischmann, Wetzlar-Garbenheim, Germany, assignor to Ernst Leitz, G. m. b. H., Wetzlar, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application October 15, 1952, Serial No. 314,7 83 1 Claim. (Cl. 18936) The object of this invention is to provide novel supporting means for a microscope objective and other microscope parts which are detachably mounted upon the microscope stand by means of a dovetail connection in which the dovetail rail is slidably removed from the dovetail slot by a movement longitudinal of the connection and parallel to the optical axis of the objective.

Such an arrangement is objectionable because, for example, if more than one element is thus detachably supported, it is necessary to remove the last inserted element before the lowest one can be removed. Also, a detaching downward movement of such parts or of the objective may cause injury to the object under examination.

This invention provides a dovetail connection in which either the rail or the slot is divided into two opposed parts. At least one of these parts is movable in a direction normal to the direction of the detaching movement. Thus, in the one case, the dovetail rail may be operated so as to be removed sideways from the slot instead of by a sliding movement longitudinally of the slot. In the other case, the slot may be widened to permit such removing movement. In both cases, the objective is detached by a movement at a right angle to the optical axis. The principle of the invention is applicable to devices other than microscopes.

The accompanying drawing illustrates two examples of a dovetail connection for microscopes. Fig. 1 is a detail view in section, with parts removed, in which the dovetail rail is divided. Fig. 2 is a similar view in which the dovetail slot is divided.

In the drawing, Fig. 1, the objective 1 is supported in a carrier 2 which is formed with a dovetail guiding rail consisting of the fixed rail part 3 and the movable rail part 4. The latter is pivoted on a shaft 6 supported within the space in the carrier 2. The movable rail part 4 is normally pressed inwardly toward the part 3 by a spring 8. After the objective has been positioned on the stand, the part 4 is clamped within the dovetail slot 9 by a screw 7. The slot 9 is here formed in the stand 10.

In Fig. 2, the dovetail rail 15 is part of the objective carrier 11. The stand 12 is provided with a dovetail slot formed by the fixed part 13 and the movable part 14 pivoted upon a shaft 16. The part 14 is spring pressed ICC outwardly from the slot by the spring 18. The part 14 is clamped in slot forming position by the screw 17.

When the objective, or other part, is to be removed, the screws 7 and 17, respectively, are loosened, so that the objective carrier 2 and 11, respectively, can be detached by a movement at a right angle to the axis of the objective and another part, which has either the two-part rail in Fig. 1 or the integral rail in Fig. 2 may be attached. The inserted part is thereafter clamped in position by the screws.

In Fig. 1 the rail 3--4 can be pulled out of the slot 9 because the rail is narrower than the slot when the screw 7 is screwed outward. In Fig. 2 the integral rail 15 can be withdrawn from the slot 13-14, which is widened by the spring 18 when the screw 17 is loosened.

In both cases as shown in the drawing, the objective 1 is detached, not axially, but by a movement at a right angle to the optical axis.

I claim:

A dovetail connection for removably connecting one part to another part comprising an integral dovetail slot in the one part, a complementary dovetail rail in the other part consisting of a fixed rail portionprojecting from said other part for engagement with the one side of the said dovetail slot, an opening provided in said other part in substantial alinement with said integral dovetail slot in the one part, one side of said opening being formed by said fixed rail portion, a movable rail portion pivoted on said other part at a point spaced from said opening in substantial alinement therewith, said movable rail portion extending from said pivot through said opening into complementary rail forming relation with said fixed rail portion for engagement with the inside surface of the opposite side of said dovetail slot and to move laterally across said dovetail slot within said slot and said opening, a spring in said other part engaging said movable rail portion to move the same to vary the distance between said rail portions and a clamping screw in said other part extending into the said opening to engage the movable rail portion to clamp it in operative sliding relation with the said inside surface of the slot, said movable rail portion having a range of movement within the dovetail slot and said opening with respect to said integral rail portion enabling said dovetail rail to pass through the mouth of the said slot for separation of the said two parts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,397,696 Nelson Nov. 22, 1921 1,510,722 Tierney et a1 Oct. 7, 1924 1,849,305 Magarian Mar. 15, 1932 1,887,121 Dietzel Nov. 8, 1932 2,133,509 Hall et a1 Oct. 18, 1938 2,503,272 Jobert Apr. 11, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 528,621 France Aug. 22, 1921 

